Novel Self-Discovery Exercises Using Negative Space in Art

To get a new and different perspective, instead of painting the positive space, which includes people, objects, etc., artists sometimes paint the negative space, which is what is in between people, objects, etc. In doing so, artists uncover a whole different world, richer and more mysterious. Focusing on the negative space gives depth and perspective, balance, and harmony.

What if we could apply that technique of exploring the negative space in art to discover more about ourselves?

"The Starry Night"

Source: Vincent Van Gogh/Wikimedia Commons

Negative space in painting, photography, and music

Let’s take the well-known oil on canvas painting “The Starry Night” that Dutch post-impressionist Vincent Van Gogh painted in 1889 from his asylum in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. It is thought that Venus is to the right of the cypress tree, that the moon is on the upper right, and that what you see between Venus and the moon are stars. An example of negative space in this painting is the spaces between the stars.

To discover more about yourself, focus on those negative spaces, on their colors and shapes. How does focusing on those negative spaces make you feel? Do you experience any body sensations associated with those feelings? In expressing out loud your feelings and body sensations, you might discover more of your deep self.

Source: Hanna Morris/Unsplash

In photography, look at the picture on the left. After looking at the positive space, which is the two hands, focus on the negative space, which is the space between the two hands.

While keeping an open mind and open heart and without judgment, explore the feelings, emotions, body sensations, and memories that come up for you when you focus on the space between the two hands.

In music, the negative space is the absence of sound. It is the silence between notes, the pauses between chords, and the moments when the music simply stops. The negative space in music gives more depth to the music and gives us time to dive deeper into our feelings. Next time you listen to your favorite piece of music, explore what feelings come up when the music pauses.

Atlas slave sculpture by Michelangelo. We can see how the artist chipped out the pieces of marble that weren't the body (negative space) until the body appeared.

Source: Michelangelo/Wikimedia Commons

Negative space in our own self

We have talked about the negative space of paintings, photos, and music, but what about the negative space of our own self? That negative space is what is not us. Let’s go on a journey of exploring what is not us as if we were carving a sculpture of us and chipping out the pieces that are not us.

To do that, you can either do the exercise by yourself or with a partner. If you do the exercise with a partner, get a timer and have your partner ask you the question, “Who are you not?” and if you run out of answers, use the question, “What don’t you like?” Give one answer like “I am not somebody who….” Finish the sentence. Have your partner say, “Thank you,” without any comment or judgment. Then, have your partner ask you the same question again and give another answer. Set the timer for two minutes, then switch roles for another two minutes.

After exploring who you are not, you will have a clearer, fuller image of what is left of you, which is who you are.

Another analogy for negative and positive space is our unconscious and consciousness.

We could say that our positive space—the one we are aware of—is our consciousness, while our negative space is our unconscious. By diving into what our unconscious thoughts and feelings are, we will learn more about who we really are. For instance, if your own answers about what you are don’t surprise you, you have just connected with the negative space of your unconscious.

Let’s add one more exercise:

Negative space in relationships

Next time you get together with a friend, be mindful of the negative space between you and your friend. What physical distance separates the two of you? What emotional distance separates the two of you? How does that distance make you feel? Pay attention to silences between sentences. How do those silences make you feel?

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You can also focus on the negative space when you are in your doctor’s office.

A study published in the Annals of Family Medicine describes the importance of being aware of three different negative spaces: the negative physical space (physical distance that separates the patient from the physician), the negative communicative space (information not exchanged during the medical visit), and the negative longitudinal space (what is not done or not said over time in between visits).

The author of the article concludes that awareness of all those negative spaces is the first step to changes that will improve patient care. Those changes might include the practitioner sitting physically closer to the patient, communicating more during the visit, and establishing more contact with the patient in-between visits.

Conclusion

By growing accustomed to examining the negative spaces of paintings, photos, music, encounters with friends, family, or at professional meetings, you will get on a journey of self-discovery that is unique to you. Welcome each step of that journey with an open mind and open heart without any criticism while letting go of preconceived notions. This way, your attention to negative space details will add texture, depth, and perspective to your life. It might help redefine who you really are and might improve your relationships.

Put another way, focusing on the negative space can add much to your life that’s positive.

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